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The pedigree of the
1985 World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse states that he was
foaled on May 31, 1980, that he is a black stallion, marked by a star
and a snip, and was bred by J. C. Carpenter of Pulaski, Tennessee. The
chart of his lineage shows his dam was Ebony's C. C. and his sire was
Pride of Midnight H. F., and also lists among his forebears such
illustrious Walking Horse names as Midnight Sun, Ebony Masterpiece,
Merry Go Boy and Roan Allen F-38.
Such is the stuff of
champions of the breed, and Pride's Final Edition already held six
world titles when he and Trainer-Rider Ramsey Bullington answered the
call for the World Grand Championship Stake on Saturday night, August
31, 1985
It was the final
class of the 47th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Pride's Final Edition, based on his title
wins and other impressive show wins at Gallatin, Lewisburg and
Belfast, Tennessee, during the summer of '85, was considered among the
favorites in the 14-horse workout of the Big Stake. |
Ramsey Bullington and Pride's
Final Edition sweep the famed Celebration show ring following
their triumph in the Big Stake of the 1985 National Celebration. |
He had won the
two-year-old division and stake with Scott Benham in 1982 in only
the young horse's second show ring appearance. Ramsey Bullington
guided him to division and stake honors in 1983 as a
three-year-old, and to the division title in 1984 as a
four-year-old. Following his preliminary Junior Stallion win,
Final Edition became ill and was unable to continue in quest of
Championship honors. Bullington, named by his peers as the
1983 "Trainer of the Year," credits Final Edition as a substantial
contributor to that title.
At the 1985
Celebration, Bullington took him to the winner's circle in the
competition for Division A, Over 15.2 Stallion Class.
Thus, Final Edition held six championship titles, going into the
Big Stake. |
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The black stallion
had been purchased by the Joe Christmas family, from Richard Cabalerro
of California, shortly after the 1982 Celebration. The
proud owners of the 1985 World Grand Champion, Mr. and Mrs. Joe
Christmas, Buddy Christmas and Libby Christmas Benham, of Mason and
Columbia, Tennessee, announced shortly after the 1985 Celebration that
Final Edition would be retired to stand at stud.
The Christmas family
has purchased Tri-Oaks Farm near Shelbyville and Final Edition will
hold court there under the direction and supervision of Mr. and Mrs.
Scott Benham, - offered, Mrs. Benham stated, as "the sire of the
future." |
